Qualifications: Apart from the above accountancy
qualifications, when I was able to work. I am a 10 year ex-addict,
of Benzodiazepine neuro poisoning drugs and have been tranquilliser
free, for nearly 16 years.

I am a researcher into Benzodiazepine drugs
and their horrific consequences. In addition, I have been campaigning
for justice, recognition of our drug induced injuries, for treatment
centres, de-tox units and a network of support groups country
wide to help the victims and their families, for the last 15 years
on a purely voluntary basis.

In addition, I am a member of Tranx (Oldham)
for the past nine years. This is a tranquilliser support group,
formed to give addicts hope, support and wean them from their
legally induced addiction. We use our expertise to help humanity.

I brief and inform Members of Parliament on
the problems of addiction and withdrawal.

I take telephone calls from addicts worldwide,
nationally and locally to give advice, comfort, hope in their
addiction nightmare. Again on a voluntary basis, and give interviews
to the media on tranquilliser addiction.

The Government's drug policy is not working,
both for legal and illegal addicts.

1. Heroin AddictionClass "A"
Drug

The heroin addict steals and "mugs"
people, to obtain his/her daily fix. The damage done to society
far outweighs, the value to the addict.

Instead of spending vast amounts to the police,
Customs and Excise etc to try and contain the situation. Heroin
should be legalised, and the monies, spent on treatment centres,
de-tox units and support. By giving them a daily, clean
supply of heroin only and gradually withdrawing them on heroin
only, not Methadone or Benzodiazepine drugs, which kills more
addicts than heroin.

Give them a daily supply, treat them as human
beings, and put them on the road to recovery. Not treat them as
criminals and give enormous profits to the drug pushers and cartels.

2. Benzodiazepine AddictionClass "C"
Drug

(a) The above cause more controlled
drug deaths, than heroin and cocaine, in total1;

(b) causes permanent brain damage2;

(c) causes cognitive defects3;

(d) causes paradoxical reaction4;

(e) causes road deaths5;

(f) causes damage to new born babies6;

(g) causes addiction, even on therapeutic
dosage7;

(h) causes socio-economic costs8;

(i) causes increase in suicidal thoughts
and tendencies9;

(j) causes iatrogenic crime10; and

(k) causes aggression in prisons11.

3. Reasons for the Benzodiazepine Drug Scandal
and MPs comments

(a) The drug manufacturers in the 1950s,
60s and 70s saw a very lucrative market, after the barbiturates.
The drugs themselves, were not clinically tested for long enough
periods, and in their greed the population of the UK became guinea
pigs and involuntary victims, to bolster the capital reserves
on balance sheets and salaries, dividend payments in the profit
and loss account of the manufacturers . . . "Profit before
people".

(b) The medical professions complete apathy
and fudging of issues.

1980Committee on review of medicines.
"However following an extensive review of all available data
the committee concluded that on the present available evidence,
the true addiction potential of Benzodiazepine was low. The number
dependent on the Benzodiazepine in the UK from 1960 to 1977 has
been estimated to be 28 persons".12

Consider that from 1960 to 1977 over 300 million
prescriptions for Benzodiazepine drugs had been issued in the
UK.